Self-Measurements Said "No Problem," But Factory Smokestacks Revealed a Twist

[Anchor]

Domestic cement factories have been utilizing various wastes as fuel for cement production. Whether hazardous substances are emitted has traditionally been measured by the companies themselves. However, a government investigation revealed problems that contradict the companies' reports.

First, let us watch an exclusive report by Climate and Environment Specialist Reporter Jang Se-man, and we will discuss it further.

[Reporter]

Trucks lined up in front of a cement factory.

They are loaded with various wastes brought from all over the country, such as waste plastic and waste tires.

These are used as a fuel and raw material alternative to bituminous coal to make cement.

Since waste recycling was authorized to promote it, the amount of waste used has increased significantly over the past decade or so. As cement companies reduced their imports of bituminous coal, they even get paid to process waste, making it a major source of revenue for the cement industry.

Emissions of hazardous substances have been measured and reported by the companies themselves.

This is the so-called "self-measurement" method.

[Lim Chang-soon / Jecheon Cement Residents' Representative: They say there is no problem with the self-measurements. They claim it is always within the standard range. If they even release the data, that would be nice, but they report directly to the Ministry of Environment and do not share it with us.]

As backlash from nearby residents grew, the government launched its first commissioned survey.

The survey results showed that total hydrocarbons (THC) exceeded legal limits at 10 out of 18 smokestacks in domestic cement factories.

At some locations, levels were more than four times the legal limit.

Total hydrocarbons are a group of substances combining carbon and hydrogen, which include hazardous substances like benzene and toluene, making them subject to strict regulation.

This contradicts the self-measurement results, which had claimed that levels did not exceed the limit.

[Lee Yong-woo / Member of the National Assembly Climate and Environment Committee (Democratic Party): The characteristic of self-measurements is that they are often conducted based on specific points in time. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately measure parts where emissions are high and volatility is large.]

Because waste has a lower calorific value compared to bituminous coal, it is estimated to cause incomplete combustion, thereby emitting more total hydrocarbons.

[Yeoreum / Professor of Environmental Engineering at Kwangwoon University: During seasons like summer, ozone alerts and similar warnings frequently pop up, and hydrocarbons can be understood as pollutants that directly impact those issues.]

Based on the results of this survey, the government has decided to push for a plan where government agencies directly manage total hydrocarbon measurements rather than leaving them to cement companies.

(Video Editing: Kim Yoon-sung, VJ: Shin So-young)


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[Anchor]

Reporter Jang Se-man, who covered this story, is here with us in the studio.

Q. Were the cement industry's self-measurements a "trick"?

[Jang Se-man / Climate and Environment Specialist Reporter: Currently, regulations require cement factories to conduct self-measurements for total hydrocarbons twice a month. This means the companies are given the discretion to conduct them whenever they want, as long as they meet the measurement frequency. Consequently, even if they temporarily stop using waste and perform measurements as a trick, there is no way of knowing. While the government says it will no longer allow self-measurements for total hydrocarbons, there are still about 30 other hazardous substance items, such as phenol, mercury, and arsenic, that remain subject to self-measurements.]

Q. Any concerns over health damage for residents near cement factories?

[Jang Se-man / Climate and Environment Specialist Reporter: Back in 2007, the government conducted a health impact survey on residents living near cement factories, and causal relationships regarding health damages were partially recognized, leading to an order for compensation. However, cement companies filed lawsuits challenging the ruling, and won at the Supreme Court, rendering the compensation void. A second health impact survey is currently underway. This latest total hydrocarbon survey result has additionally exposed problems with waste usage. Therefore, the previously omitted total hydrocarbon emissions are expected to be newly reflected, and resident backlash is likely to intensify further.]

Q. What about the use of waste in overseas cement factories?

[Jang Se-man / Climate and Environment Specialist Reporter: It is true that the use of waste is expanding overseas as well. However, while Europe restrictively utilizes around 10 types of waste, many point out that over 80 types are used indiscriminately in Korea. The total hydrocarbon emission standard that became an issue this year is tightened to 18 ppm in Europe, whereas it is relaxed to 60 ppm in Korea, indicating a need to standardize appropriate levels for the types and amounts of waste.]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.